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Education
Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
10:06am
Tue May 14

Illinois Senate May Vote On Comprehensive Sex Ed Bill This Week

A state measure that looks to revamp sex education in Illinois’ public schools was approved in the House last month and could possibly go up for a full Senate vote this week.

The bill, HB 2675, would require schools with sex education classes for grades 6 through 12 to stress abstinence, but also incorporate contraception into the discussion. Schools would also be required to provide students with information on how to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). 

Under the measure, schools currently teaching sex education would also have to adopt medically-accurate and evidence-based information into lesson plans.

As it stands now, those components are not part of the Illinois School Code related to sexual health education, said Joy Messinger, deputy director of the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health.

“That piece is extremely important,” Messinger said. “We believe, and we know based on lots and lots of research, that abstinence-only until marriage education is ineffective, and it often presents an inaccurate view of sexual health.”

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PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
6:22pm
Fri May 10

Women Speak Out On CPS School Closings & Immigration Reform As Mother's Day Weekend Begins (VIDEO)

Politics

Including the voice of women, and particularly mothers, in pending issues across the city, state, and country is increasingly important, according to several organizations which saw the start of Mother’s Day weekend as an opportunity to advocate for their causes.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
5:57pm
Thu May 9

Education Arts Non-Profit Could Play A Role In Easing The Transition For Students Affected By CPS School Closures

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has asked Changing Worlds, a non-profit arts and education organization with a presence in schools across the district, to consider offering programs that will support welcoming students in schools slated for closure.

“This has had a dramatic impact on many communities,” said Mark Rodriguez, executive director for Changing Worlds, regarding a CPS proposal to close a recordbreaking number of schools across the city.

With 11 of Changing Worlds’ 32 school partners included on CPS’ proposed list for school actions, Rodriguez said the program is in dialogue with district officials regarding ways Changing Worlds can soften the blow to affected students.

“We’re trying to support the young people and help provide solutions and programming that will help schools that are welcoming new students,” he said, adding that Changing Worlds has provided testimonials and letters of support for several of the schools slated for closure. Read more »

PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
6:15pm
Wed May 8

During Chaotic City Council Meeting, Emanuel Introduces Parking Meter Deal Changes & LGBT Athlete Resolution Passes

Chicago City Council

Here's a look at some of the highlights from today's Chicago City Council meeting.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
8:03pm
Tue May 7

Community Activists Say Bank Of America Is A 'Destabilizing Force' In Chicago (VIDEO)

Bank of America (BOA) serves as a destabilizing force in Chicago’s blighted communities, according to approximately 50 protesters who took their message to a downtown branch on Tuesday.

Organized by the Grassroots Collaborative on the eve of Bank of America’s shareholder meeting in North Carolina, demonstrators rallied against policies that, according to protesters, has led to Chicago school closures and community devastation.

“We have schools that are closing, homes that are abandoned, and neighborhoods falling apart; this is a time when we need our neighborhoods to be built up and not destroyed,” said Amisha Patel, executive director of the Grassroots Collaborative. “It’s time for Bank of America to do everything they can to strengthen our communities.”

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Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
2:09pm
Fri May 3

Lewis Elementary Teachers Call For Alternative Turnaround Plan At CPS Hearing

Lewis Elementary teachers agreed to have their school turned around but only if Strategic Learning Initiatives (SLI) is leading the action, they said at a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) hearing Thursday night.

Under CPS' proposal, Lewis' teachers and staff are slated to be fired and the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) would take over the school in the fall.

But teachers at Lewis say they have been used as "guinea pigs" for various programs that begin to show improvement after a few years, such as the Teacher Advancement Program, but are then abruptly ended by the district. 

"We all know that when you introduce a new program it takes time for the staff and students to adjust," said Corliss Wade, a first-grade teacher at Lewis. Read more »